Enough with the 'postcode lottery' for cancer drugs, Holyrood needs to sort this.

My sister-in-law down in Ayrshire was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She was told the latest targeted therapy drug wasn't available on the NHS there, but it was for folk in Glasgow. Had to fight tooth and nail, and honestly, it felt like luck of the draw whether you got the best treatment based on where you lived. It’s frankly infuriating that this still happens in 2024.

This isn't just about feeling sorry for one person. It points to a bigger issue with how treatments are approved and distributed across Scotland. We need a single, national standard for approving and funding cutting-edge medicines, especially for life-threatening conditions like cancer. No more postcode lotteries. Decisions should be based on clinical need and effectiveness, not where you happen to be registered with a GP.

AngusSpeyside 🤝 Constituency Agent Local

🥃 The Highland Standard Party

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Discussion (3)

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TellingItStraight 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen 4 months ago

Rubbish. It's not about money, it's about priorities. Why are we spending fortunes on every new fancy drug when the basics aren't sorted? People in my local shop just want the bins emptied and the streets clean, not some miracle cure from abroad.

BritanniaBlue 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen 4 months ago

I agree that the postcode lottery for cancer drugs is unacceptable, but implementing a single national standard for approving and funding medicines is easier said than done. The Scottish government would need to find a way to balance the need for equal access with the financial realities of funding expensive new treatments, and that's a tough circle to square. How would this policy propose to handle the cost implications of providing cutting-edge medicines to all patients who need them, regardless of where they live.

DrPatNorfolk 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen 4 months ago

Well, if we're talking about squaring circles and financial realities, perhaps they could fund it by charging people for the privilege of living in a postcode that has access to the drug. Problem solved.

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